Letters to the Editor for Jan. 23, 2013

Published: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 2:43 p.m.

DEP on right track

Changes in approach at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection bode well for people and the environment. Some disagree. But after 28 years with DEP, I believe we're positioned to achieve worthwhile long-term results. Here's why:

1) Staff discretion: Senior management wants staff to get creative and solve more problems in the field. This means faster restorations and fewer conflicts.

2) Faster permitting (20 percent faster in 2012): This comes from communicating better with applicants, modernized business practices and putting greater emphasis on the needs of people we regulate.

3) Encouragement from senior-management: My staff and I have been encouraged regarding our approach to environmental protection.

4) Great people: I am surrounded by people who are committed to a more constructive, creative, collaborative and cost-effective DEP.

Change can be hard. If these are changes, they're positive. I say DEP is on the right track. That bodes well for the environment.

Dave Herbster,

DEP administrator

Orlando

Don't pick on us

We have a weapon in our home because there are criminals out there who would invade our home. And why would we need an assault rifle? Have you seen what the criminals are carrying?

Instead of picking on the honest, hard-working people who populate our nation, let's pick on the criminals.

Let's get judges serious about gun violence. If there was a gun involved, throw his can in the can! And not just overnight. Put some bite into the law.

No prison room? Release the potheads that you are so much more fond of giving long sentences. Release the dead-beat dads, because they only enjoy the vacation given to them by the court system.

Let's look at exactly who is using weapons for evil. Pick on those useless excuses for humans, instead of picking on the honest, hard-working Americans.

Freida Eastman,

High Springs

Fraction of budget

As a GRU ratepayer, I have no objection to the city of Gainesville using outside counsel to assist in negotiating a complex, expensive project like the construction of a new power plant.

It's my understanding that local governments and smaller businesses use outside counsel on a regular basis. I would be more concerned if GRU and the city had decided not to reach out to people with a greater level of expertise and experience with these issues.

While GRU has been the subject of a great deal of demagoguery, residents (and local voters) should remember that they are working on our behalf, and the cost of outside counsel represents a tiny fraction of the GRU budget.

Helen K. Warren,

Gainesville

Definition of treason

So now the cat is out of the bag. The gun lobby now clearly acknowledges that its demand for a universal right to own assault rifles and giant magazines has nothing to do with defense of the home, protection of public places such as schools, hunting or target practice.

It has to do with armed resistance to any democratically elected federal government that doesn't suit the right. What's next: Abrams tanks and F-16s?

For decades, ordinary citizens have endured a barrage of noise about the "patriotic deficit" of all those left of the extreme right. Now it turns out that it is the extreme right that has questionable loyalty to established and elected government. Perhaps we need to take another look at the definition of treason.

John Huddleston,

Gainesville

Enough hypocrisy

Finally, a Republican that gets it. John "J.J." Martin wrote, "Making something illegal doesn't stop it. It just makes it illegal" (Sun, Jan. 16). I am sure he feels the same way about abortion, prostitution, gambling, gay marriage and drugs.

Why does any discussion of controlling guns and ammo mean they will unilaterally become illegal?

The hypocrites are the ones who say they care about innocent lives and that is why abortion should be illegal, but will not even discuss common-sense solutions to gun violence.

<p><b>DEP on right track</b></p><p>Changes in approach at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection bode well for people and the environment. Some disagree. But after 28 years with DEP, I believe we're positioned to achieve worthwhile long-term results. Here's why:</p><p>1) Staff discretion: Senior management wants staff to get creative and solve more problems in the field. This means faster restorations and fewer conflicts.</p><p>2) Faster permitting (20 percent faster in 2012): This comes from communicating better with applicants, modernized business practices and putting greater emphasis on the needs of people we regulate.</p><p>3) Encouragement from senior-management: My staff and I have been encouraged regarding our approach to environmental protection.</p><p>4) Great people: I am surrounded by people who are committed to a more constructive, creative, collaborative and cost-effective DEP.</p><p>Change can be hard. If these are changes, they're positive. I say DEP is on the right track. That bodes well for the environment.</p><p><i>Dave Herbster,</p><p>DEP administrator</p><p>Orlando</i></p><p><b>Don't pick on us</b></p><p>We have a weapon in our home because there are criminals out there who would invade our home. And why would we need an assault rifle? Have you seen what the criminals are carrying?</p><p>Instead of picking on the honest, hard-working people who populate our nation, let's pick on the criminals.</p><p>Let's get judges serious about gun violence. If there was a gun involved, throw his can in the can! And not just overnight. Put some bite into the law.</p><p>No prison room? Release the potheads that you are so much more fond of giving long sentences. Release the dead-beat dads, because they only enjoy the vacation given to them by the court system.</p><p>Let's look at exactly who is using weapons for evil. Pick on those useless excuses for humans, instead of picking on the honest, hard-working Americans.</p><p><i>Freida Eastman,</p><p>High Springs</i></p><p><b>Fraction of budget</b></p><p>As a GRU ratepayer, I have no objection to the city of Gainesville using outside counsel to assist in negotiating a complex, expensive project like the construction of a new power plant.</p><p>It's my understanding that local governments and smaller businesses use outside counsel on a regular basis. I would be more concerned if GRU and the city had decided not to reach out to people with a greater level of expertise and experience with these issues.</p><p>While GRU has been the subject of a great deal of demagoguery, residents (and local voters) should remember that they are working on our behalf, and the cost of outside counsel represents a tiny fraction of the GRU budget.</p><p><i>Helen K. Warren,</p><p>Gainesville</i></p><p> </p><p><b>Definition of treason</b></p><p>So now the cat is out of the bag. The gun lobby now clearly acknowledges that its demand for a universal right to own assault rifles and giant magazines has nothing to do with defense of the home, protection of public places such as schools, hunting or target practice.</p><p>It has to do with armed resistance to any democratically elected federal government that doesn't suit the right. What's next: Abrams tanks and F-16s?</p><p>For decades, ordinary citizens have endured a barrage of noise about the "patriotic deficit" of all those left of the extreme right. Now it turns out that it is the extreme right that has questionable loyalty to established and elected government. Perhaps we need to take another look at the definition of treason.</p><p><i>John Huddleston,</p><p>Gainesville</i></p><p><b>Enough hypocrisy</b></p><p>Finally, a Republican that gets it. John "J.J." Martin wrote, "Making something illegal doesn't stop it. It just makes it illegal" (Sun, Jan. 16). I am sure he feels the same way about abortion, prostitution, gambling, gay marriage and drugs.</p><p>Why does any discussion of controlling guns and ammo mean they will unilaterally become illegal?</p><p>The hypocrites are the ones who say they care about innocent lives and that is why abortion should be illegal, but will not even discuss common-sense solutions to gun violence.</p><p><i>Kelly Moore,</p><p>Gainesville</i></p>